Moroccan national airline, Royal Air Maroc, will launch services between the northern city of Tangier and Gibraltar from March 29, 2015. This new service will provide the first air link on the route since the 1990s linking two cities with a long joint history and whose air links historically date back to the 1930s.
Operating initially twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays, it will allow Gibraltarians to reconnect by air with the historic city of Tangier, as well as allowing Moroccans to discover all that Gibraltar has to offer. It will be one of the world’s shortest intercontinental services.
The primary contact for the start of these services was initiated by the Office of the Chief Minister and the Minister for Tourism whom subsequently held a meeting with a delegation from Royal Air Maroc. The start of new air services to Tangier is part of a wider approach by Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar to promote Gibraltar’s tourism industry, financial services and commercial affairs in Morocco.
“Gibraltar has enjoyed strong links with Morocco for years and thanks to the Government of Gibraltar’s initiative to allow Moroccan nationals with Schengen visas to visit for a maximum of 21 days, this will allow the discovery of Gibraltar as a unique destination for shopping and leisure,” said Hon Neil Costa MP, Gibraltar’s Minister for Tourism, Commercial Affairs, Public Transport and the Port.
The new service, to be operated using a 70-seat ATR 72 turboprop, will be timed so that passengers can connect from Casablanca with one-stop at Tangier, opening up Gibraltar to the largest city in Morocco and for connections from Casablanca to the rest of Morocco and the world through Royal Air Maroc’s route network.
“This new service also highlights Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar’s manifesto commitment to attract new air services to promote tourism and also offer outbound opportunities to the local population and business community,” added Hon Neil Costa MP.
The launch of the new route follows the introduction this past summer of seasonal flights by Royal Air Maroc between Marrakech and Gibraltar. These flights, operating weekly or twice weekly between April and July, were also flown using a 70-seat ATR 72 turboprop.
Related Content
